Grand Slam of judo in Tbilisi, first day in Georgian land marked by a marked balance, with five judokas from different nations to grab the most precious metal.
Among the men -60 kg, above all the Georgian NOZADZE, who in a hard-fought derby defeats his compatriot SARDALASHVILI in the final act.
Bronze for the Japanese KOGA and the Azerbaijani BAYRAMOV.
The head of the special state protection service, Anzor Chubinidze, delivers the medals.
“It is always difficult when there is a competition between two Georgian judokas – says the winner – especially when it is the final, it was a very tense and difficult moment for me.
But I managed to gather all my energy and in the end I won the gold medal, I’m very happy. “
Category women -48 kg: on the shields the transalpine LEGOUX CLEMENT, gold after the success in the final against the Spanish MARTINEZ ABELENDA.
Third step of the podium for the other French PONT and the Austrian TANZER.
Awarding of the medals by Mohammed Meridja, IJF Education & Coaching Manager.
Among women -57 kg, above all the Korean Mimi HUH, at the first appearance as senior judoka in the World Judo Tour, which defeats the German STARKE.
Third step of the podium for the Georgian LIPARTELIANI and the Brazilian SILVA, fifth place for the 19-year-old Italian Veronica TONIOLO.
Presenting the medals is the IJF Director of Referees, Ki-Young Jeon.
And again, women -52 kg: to win is the Kosovar KRASNIQI, good at overcoming the resistance of the Hungarian PUPP with the o-soto gari technique aimed at the ippon.
Third place for the Spanish LOPEZ SHERIFF and the transalpine Astride GNETO, fifth the 22-year-old Italian Martina CASTAGNOLA.
The IJF sporting director, Skander Hachicha, presents the medals.
“Off the mat I respect everyone and I try to help anyone in need: today we didn’t have any antagonists for the warm-up, the finalist asked me to warm up and I obviously agreed, because I needed her too.
So we warmed up and wished good luck wishing each other final, it happened like this and I’m very happy ”.
To close, men’s category -66 kg: the Moldovan VIERU, executioner in the final of the Georgian TUTASHVILI, takes care of beating the competition.
Third place for the Japanese TANAKA and the other Georgian MARGVELASHVILI.
To deliver the medals is the president of the Georgian Federation of Judo, Giorgi Atabegashvili.
An important day for the home judokas, who bring home a gold, two silvers and as many bronzes, convinced that they will be able to replenish the spoils in the remaining competitions.
